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The Celtics didn’t have to give up much to move from No. 16 in the first round to No. 13 to pick up Kelly Olynyk. It took just two second-round picks for Boston to move up and grab the 7-footer.

In doing so, Boston might have picked up the smartest big man in the draft, at least according to Olynyk’s former coach.

“He’s got an IQ like a point guard. It’s that high,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few told the Boston Herald. “He knows what we are supposed to be doing. He knows what the opponent is doing, so he really has a great feel for the game.”

Olynyk may have to use those smarts to pick up the NBA game and play early in Boston. With Kevin Garnett gone, the Celtics will need some big men out on the court.

Olynyk averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 2012-13 while picking up West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors.

Parking Panda

ummm. Wrong. and Wrong. The Celtics gave up 2 second round picks AND their first round #16 pick. and that was for the Dallas #13 pick, not the #12 pick. Shody and Incompetent reporting to write this article and lead with blowing the two most important data facts.

I remember when Shawn Bradley was taken 2nd in the draft. The spin was he was an "athletic" 7'6." Hm? That so. As if what? Big men are not generally athletic? Now we have Olynyk who has the "IQ of a point guard." Hm?

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 at 8:46pm

How do you measure a point guard's IQ? & how do you arrive at a certain mathematical standard by which to gauge a player's IQ? How smart do you have to be to run up the court and shoot the ball through the basket?

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 at 10:06pm

this coming from a coach who has a basketball IQ of a Pointer (AKC dog breed).